Blind Kiss: A Novel
Blind Kiss: A Novel book cover

Blind Kiss: A Novel

Paperback – August 14, 2018

Price
$22.59
Format
Paperback
Pages
336
Publisher
Atria Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1501189623
Dimensions
5.31 x 1 x 8.25 inches
Weight
9.1 ounces

Description

“ Blind Kiss beautifully illustrates how destiny prevails over even the best-laid plans. You will love this story."— Tracey Garvis-Graves, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl He Used to Know “A story of enduring passion, devoted friendship, and the undeniable power of chemistry, Blind Kiss asks the question: Would you wait a lifetime to be with the person you love? Renée Carlino's evocative prose is at once heartbreaking and full of hope, and the palpable spark between Gavin and Penny will touch the depths of your heart.”— Kristin Rockaway, author of The Wild Woman’s Guide to Traveling the World " Blind Kiss is Renée Carlino at her finest. The tension between Penny and Gavin leaps off the page.xa0This is a romantic, tender, complicated love story. I found it heartfelt, honest and simply wonderful."— Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo "Carlino ( Wish You Were Here ) impresses and astonishes with this complicated, beautiful contemporary that shifts between past and present with devastating effect . . . [Her] sharp, incisive prose calls the traditional romance novel ending into question throughout. The expert characterizations and a constantly surprising plot are enthralling. Deep and complex, this heartbreaking and heartwarming tale will live in readers’ memories long after the final page is turned."— Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Renee Carlino never fails to deliver mature, layered, unique, and emotionally satisfying love stories, and Blind Kiss was all this and even more. Wow! My absolute favorite book of hers to date!"— Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and the bestselling author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, Before We Were Strangers, Swear on This Life, and Wish You Were Here . She grew up in Southern California and lives in the San Diego area with her husband and two sons. To learn more, visit ReneeCarlino.com.

Features & Highlights

  • From the national bestselling author of
  • Before We Were Strangers
  • ,
  • Swear on this Life
  • , and
  • Wish You Were
  • Here
  • comes a powerful story of two people who spend years denying their scientifically proven chemistry.
  • Penny spends her afternoons sitting outside a sandwich shop, surrounded by ghosts. Fourteen years ago, this shop was her childhood dance studio—and she was a dancer on the rise. Now she’s a suburban housewife, dreading the moment her son departs for MIT, leaving her with an impeccably decorated McMansion and a failing marriage. She had her chance at wild, stars-in-her-eyes happiness, but that was a lifetime ago. After The Kiss. Before The Decision. The Kiss was soulful. Magical. Earth-shattering. And it was all for a free gift card. Asked to participate in a psych study that posed the question, “Can you have sexual chemistry without knowing what the other person looks like?” Penny agreed to be blindfolded, make polite conversation with a total stranger, and kiss him. She never expected The Kiss to change her life forever and introduce her to Gavin: tattooed, gorgeous, and spontaneous enough to ask her out seconds after the blindfolds came off. For a year, they danced between friendship and romance—until Penny made The Decision that forced them to settle for friendship. Now, fourteen years later, both of their lives are about to radically change—and it’s his turn to decide what will become of their once-in-a-lifetime connection.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(149)
★★★★
25%
(125)
★★★
15%
(75)
★★
7%
(35)
23%
(114)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Bad Penny

I love Renee’s writing and it pains me to give this book a low rating. I can get behind strong females but I can’t get behind a female who are users. And that’s exactly what Penny was. I loved Gavin but I didn’t understand why Penny wasn’t in it for him. But then she has the audacity to be upset when he moves on with his life. I was frustrated with how she used and pushed him around. I just can’t. I can’t stand heroines like that.
3 people found this helpful
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No

Real people do not behave this way.
1 people found this helpful
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Didn't quite live up to expectation

I’ve been a huge Renée Carlino fan for years. Her writing is some of my favorite ever. But while Blind Kiss was fairly enjoyable at times, it just didn’t live up to what I’ve come to expect from Carlino.

I kind of liked the second chance romance aspect – life is messy and rarely goes according to plan. The longing in this book is palpable. But I did kind of feel like at some point it started to become overkill. It was just bad luck after bad luck and I got very frustrated with the main characters, Penny and Gavin. It was unfortunate situation after unfortunate situation, followed by poor decision making and I got kind of fed up a time or two.

The writing was also not what I’ve come to expect from Carlino. She’s usually great at packing a strong emotional punch with even the simplest of words, but I felt like this book was too simple, if that makes any sense. The writing seemed sort of stilted and surface level. I felt like I was just being shown in the simplest of terms what was happening. Like a narrator describing a Tuesday afternoon. There wasn’t much depth or feeling, aside from a couple specific scenes.

I think maybe I just had a difficult time connecting with this one. Like I said though, I’m a huge fan of Renée’s, and I think maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for this one. All in all, I would say I enjoyed it, I just wanted a bit more. If you’ve never read Carlino before, then I would suggest starting with another book, however, I do think that perhaps there is an audience for Blind Kiss – maybe it’s you.
1 people found this helpful
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This book is the most satisfying gut punch.

Snotty nosed and teary eyed I finally finished this after staying up too late because I couldn't put it down to get some sleep. Renee sure has a way of writing that gets me all emotional and I like it.

This love story is filled with a ton of loss. Over and over again. We get glimpses from "present" back to college with a little backpedaling by a few months in between, but it never got confusing. A spark ignited with a blind kiss experiment and the book boils over from there. Timing is everything. I cared about each character and did not dislike anyone, which is rare. If you like a good love story without steamy sex scenes (they're probably my favorite to read) like I do pick this up ASAP!
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That love survives all obstacles.

I read the book
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Loved it!!

This book was amazing! I loved the story of Gavin and Penny. It definitely pulled at the heart strings. The time line was back and forth which made it hard to keep track of where you were in the story. But I absolutely loved the story and how it turned out.
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Hard to read

I have picked it up and put it down twice. Can't get into it. Love Carlino but not this book.
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I’ve always been your lover for a lifetime in my mind!

I loved this book even though sometimes I wanted to throw it (insert Penny) I however, loved Gavin and nominated him as my new book boyfriend! I loved the story and characters!
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eh, not her best

I LOVE Renee Carlino and I actually paid full price for this because we were going to the beach for the weekend and I knew it would be good. I have to say tho- usually Renee's books leave me questioning and thinking about it for days after and I feel wrung out emotionally, but not this one. It was good, but not her best
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Great book!

I loved this book. Couldn’t put it down.