The Kiss Countdown

pick

This book was so cute! I love the way the characters met, their plan to fake date and the intricacies of their respective families.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

11 likes

lil1inblue

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

so-so

Take my opinion with a grain of salt: Romance is not a genre I read very often. For whatever reason, I get mad at the characters and start yelling (sometimes aloud) at them. I don't know why I can suspend my disbelief in any other genre but this one.

#riseupreads @catsandbooks

ChaoticMissAdventures LoL I think they are so often completely over the top and also for a genre where it is all about love characters can be so mean to each other. I see many people reading this one and now I am interested 2w

lil1inblue @ChaoticMissAdventures My most frequent yell is "For pete's sake, just talk to each other." ? 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @lil1inblue ohhh yeah!! It is so frustrating that the writers of these books rely so so much on miscommunication. 2w

Catsandbooks Thanks for reading! 💕 2w

33 likes4 comments

Catsandbooks

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

Strong black woman stereotype

Soft black girl

There's strength in being vulnerable, in taking care of yourself

https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/15/black-women-soft-life/

https://cupcakesandcashmere.com/uncategorized/the-softness-of-black-women

Top right art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll 3w

lil1inblue I love all of these links (including the previous posts). Thank you for sharing them! 2w

48 likes2 comments

Catsandbooks

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

Housing crisis in USA

Not having a stable home growing up affects Amerie‘s life now

Wanting to feel safe and secure

Data on black home ownership https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/state-housing-black-america-report...

Homelessness and minority groups https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/ine...

Bottom left art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll 3w

43 likes1 comment

Catsandbooks

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

Sickle cell disease affects more black and brown people

Amerie‘s mom is living with this invisible illness

Healthcare system in our country is biased and broken

Basic info on sickle cell https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-cause...

Video discussing SCD from a Boston news source, it's long but a great discussion from experts https://youtu.be/xehrvNMSD4E?si=OV_3xaDmPXXqjBPd

#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll 3w

KadaGul @Catsandbooks Not only is our healthcare system fundamentally broken, but virtually every aspect of our lives is broken. It is truly a shame that we live in the 21st century, but it seems like we are returning to the 18th century. 😱🤯 3w

lil1inblue There are so many medical myths about Black folks that a worrying percentage of physicians still believe today. That they have a higher pain threshold, or that they literally have thicker skin. So not only is Amerie's mom up against these biases, but then she has an invisible illness on top of it. 2w

47 likes3 comments

Catsandbooks

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

pick

I really enjoyed this book! I love a fake dating trope. I liked the banter between Amerie's and Vincent. The friendships and family dynamics were great too and felt real.

My favorite/least liked scenes are in the comments ⬇️

#riseupreads

Catsandbooks I loved the picnic scene that Vincent set up for her. Everything was so sweet! I didn't like when Amerie met with her parents after their trip and she bolted so fast instead of staying and talking to them then. I am glad they eventually talked though. 3w

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll 3w

Julsmarshall I‘m still waiting for my hold to come in for this one but will read (listen) as soon as I can! 3w

See All 9 Comments

peanutnine The picnic scene was so sweet!! I loved Vincent the whole book, it was so obvious that he was smitten for Amerie from the start! 🥰 I agree about her parents, I hated that she paid their medical bill and didn't tell them! She just hurt herself more by not communicating 3w

Bookwormjillk Still waiting for this to come from the library. I‘ll read it when it comes. 3w

mhillis I really enjoyed this book! Their relationship was so cute and I agree that the picnic scene was just the best 💕 Also it was good to see Amerie, Vincent & their families enjoying nature and hiking. More about this in

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors

3w

Melismatic Romance is not typically a genre I read but I enjoyed this! It was very cute - agree the picnic scene was very cute, ditto to him being very protective of her when she hurt her ankle. 🥹 I felt like the ending was too rushed and felt anticlimactic, including her bailing on her parents bc what? 🙃 3w

lil1inblue @Melismatic Romance isn't typically my genre either. And I agree about the ending. But overall, it wasn't bad. 2w

lil1inblue @mhillis I love that you mentioned this! I think Vincent being an astronaut was also a good choice for the same reason. Oh, and Amerie's parents living the RV life. 2w

47 likes9 comments

Reggie

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

so-so

Mmnnnnnyghuhh, I did not like the MC, Amerie, (Why don‘t we why don‘t we fall in loooove🎶) but had to remind myself we are meeting her not in a normal period of her life but when she‘s in crisis. Her mom has health issues, her bf dropped her because she spent too much time with her mom, and then her job fired her. Anddddd she gets a notice saying her rent is going up 30%. Then she meets astronaut Vincent at a coffee shop and fake relationship👇🏼

Reggie ensues. I really wanted to dnf in the first 100 pages. The last 200, they‘re alright despite me wanting to get my word machete out at times. I did get emotional at the end but the fact I had to go through the first 100pgs makes it a soso. 3w

Lindy Where did you find your word machete? I would like to get one too! 3w

Reggie @Lindy there are time I read books and I just want to cut a paragraph or even a word, a phrase. Those first 100 pages I was in a wild word jungle. Oof. 2w

Lindy @Reggie been there 😁 2w

61 likes4 comments

willaful

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

I found this too meh to finish. It had quite a lot in common with I Think They Love You -- romcom cliches by the bushel! -- so I'll count that as my #RiseUpRead for the month. 😜

Catsandbooks

Catsandbooks 👍🏼🔥 4w

21 likes1 comment

Melismatic

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

pick

This was cute. It‘s what I picture when I think of breezy romance beach read: quick pace, familiar tropes (fake dating, “forced” proximity), plus the guy is hot and an astronaut? 😅 Romance isn‘t my typical genre but this was very cute. 3/5 stars for me…but I‘m not really a romance girly. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Photo is from this weekend. S‘mores Latte was yum.

#RiseUpReads

Catsandbooks

LoverOfLearning Love the fit and that looks good! Give me a classic hot coca because I can't do coffee haha 1mo

Melismatic @LoverOfLearning thank you! 💖 and this tasted more like hot chocolate tbh, it was so good! 1mo

Catsandbooks Ooo s'mores latte! ✊🏼🔥💖 4w

32 likes3 comments

Laughterhp

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

pick

#RiseUpReads

I‘ve owned this book since it came out, but finally picked it up. It‘s a romance, fake dating, going on vacation with his family and one bed.

Amerie needed to save face and tells her ex that she‘s dating an astronaut. It‘s Houston TX, so there are astronauts around. Vincent‘s sister overhears and now they have to be a couple around his family.

I really liked this one. I‘ll read more of this author!

Catsandbooks

LoverOfLearning Sounds like a cute one! 1mo

Catsandbooks ✊🏼🔥💖 4w

50 likes2 comments

Melismatic

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

Started on audio today for #RiseUpReads 💖

Quite Hallmarky so far in a cute way. Tis the season. 🥰🤷🏻‍♀️

Catsandbooks

Kerrbearlib Love that book!
1mo

Catsandbooks 💖🔥 1mo

29 likes2 comments

LitsyEvents

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

repost for @Catsandbooks:

#RiseUpReads February 2025
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Optional Storygraph readalong: https://app.thestorygraph.com/readalongs/37a3e213-d6d7-4b0d-8121-b015806813f0

#blackhistorymonth

33 likes

Catsandbooks

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

#RiseUpReads February 2025
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Optional Storygraph readalong: https://app.thestorygraph.com/readalongs/37a3e213-d6d7-4b0d-8121-b015806813f0

#blackhistorymonth

LitsyEvents

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks 2mo

Catsandbooks @kspenmoll 1mo

kspenmoll Thanks! Checking my library! 1mo

43 likes3 comments

LitsyEvents

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

Repost for @Catsandbooks

#RiseUpReads February 2025 Winner
The Kiss Countdown - Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

49 likes

Catsandbooks

The Kiss Countdown | Etta Easton

#RiseUpReads February 2025 Winner
The Kiss Countdown - Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

CW in comments

LitsyEvents

Catsandbooks Content warnings: chronic illness, grief, sexual content, death, injury detail, pregnancy, abandonment 2mo