I fell in love with this book in the first paragraph. I fell in love with Cyn and her daddy in the first chapter. I fell in love with Juleesa in Chapter 2 and by Chapter 5 I loved everybody and everything about this book. A Little Kissing Between Friends is a love letter to multi-generational community, friendships, music and food.
Chencia C. Higgins starts with Cyn remembering the day she let her daddy know that she liked girls. It came out as a part of a story about getting into trouble for a shoving match with Britney Berry (you have to say her whole name because there are 4 Britneys in her class). Cyn’s father focuses on reminding Cyn she had other options that were better than pushing, and quietly accepts the news that his daughter has a girlfriend. This moment of gentle and firm parenting gives the reader the foundation of Cyn’s community – loving, accepting, supportive, and expecting its members to treat others with respect and care.
Cyn is now a successful music producer, still based in her Houston neighborhood. She’s just spent weeks in LA working with a big name, but she signed an NDA, so she can’t talk about it. When she returns and sees her best friend Juleesa again, something has shifted in the way she sees her. This shift, the desire and sexual attraction pull the rug out from under Cyn and she does not know how to handle it. Juleesa, on the other hand, has been down this road before and has her 5 year old son to show. Cyn brought Juleesa and her son into her family and made Juleesa a part of it. Juleesa is wary of letting outside opinions push her into a romance with another best friend, but when Cyn makes a move, she is ready to reciprocate.
I love a well done friends to lovers romance. It would seem like an easy, low stakes transition to make, “we are friends, and now we are in love!” Higgins brings the confusion, fear, hope, and love to life. When Cyn bungles the first morning after, Higgins shows us how big the stakes are for Juleesa and Cyn.
I love the vibrant, multigenerational community. I love the way even in the midst of upheaval, assumptions, and miscommunications, respect for the other is at the center. Chencia C. Higgins is a fantastic author and A Little Kissing Between Friends is peak Higgins.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin/Carina Adores and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.