this was such a quick and easy valentines day novella and i ate it up! Everly and Beckett were so sweet and I love that they got their second chance after everything is talked about and the truth is finally discovered. these two were absolutely meant to be and it may have taken some time but im so glad these two got the HEA they deserved!

I’ve enjoyed other books by this author, but this novella wasn’t for me. It felt disjointed, more like a bunch of half formed ideas thrown together than anything coherent.

I don’t recommend this, but I do plan to read other work by this author in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

A fun quick read! This second chance, exes best friend, was low angst and sweet. The side characters really shined as well.

One thing I enjoy with this author is that her books are short and sweet with some steamy sprinkled in - and this was not an exception. This book is told in Everly and Beckett's alternating POV. They were best friends growing up, and then high school happened. Then, life kept them apart for ten years until Everly ended up back in their small town. I really liked the characters and the build-up for most of the book. I did feel the ending was rushed and there was never really any closure with Lily given the bigger part that involved her.

Overall, it was a good read with likable characters and a lot of sweet and swoony points. Things did get steamy for a bit and there was a scene that got me a bit choked up - not like that, emotionally. I would have just liked for a few things to have been expanded on instead of rushed through.

A fun valentine read! Everly and Beckett were a great read! Loved their connection and past! And loved watching them grow together. Their conversation were real. And it gave the love vibe!

I just love Ilsa Madden-Mills writing style and how fun and swoon-worthy her romances are. I should definitely read more by this author, I just never really get the chance to. Having been super happy when I got approved for this digital ARC of "The Kiss Lottery" and guess who read it way too late to the game - me! It's well past Valetine's day. It's actually the first day of March right now and only now did I finally get to read "The Kiss Lottery". Short, cute with a bit of a mystery plot that didn't even get resolved (did it?), I had a good time reading this book. Definitely something to get you out of a reading slump or just something to squeeze in between while preparing yourself for the next huge book on your TBR. I liked the characters' chemistry, the bit of peaks of drama we got here and there, the flashbacks and the friendship elements as well. I could definitely see this being transformed into a longer novel and while we're at it, being some kind of Hallmark movie as well. I couldn't help but picture this scenes bit by bit in my head, imagining this was a movie. Due to the fact that the mystery element to it kind of lacked for me and I really wish this had been longer, more yearning etc. it's not in my top books by this author, but I still had a fabulous time with it while I read it.

This is a fun novella that has wonderful characters with the small town vibes! I love Ilsa's writing and she did such a great job packing so much into a novella! You don't miss out on anything in this second chance romance.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I loved Everly and Beckett so much. I immediately loved them and this story so much.

Beckett’s grand gesture apology to her was everything. Like swoony as hell.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦/𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗦
🐈Second Chance Romance
💋Small Town Romance
🐈Miscommunication
💋Dual Narrator
🐈Valentine’s Day Theme
💋Infidelity
🐈Loss of a parent

Do I recommend…absolutely. It was a fun read. Honestly she probably could’ve done a full length novel with these characters. They were all lovely except for that one 🐝, Abigail.

Thank you Montlake/@amazonpublishing for the #gifted ARC of THE KISS LOTTERY by Ilsa Madden Mills via NetGalley.

Everly received an invitation to return to her hometown, and participate in its Kiss Lottery. She's not sure who the invitation is from. Maybe the boy she had a crush on? The ex-boyfriend? She won't know unless she returns to her hometown and participates.

I've enjoyed many of Madden Mill's previous novels, but this one didn't quite deliver. It was as if Madden Mills forgot she was writing a novella, as the majority of the book was well developed, and had some fun plots, story lines that you could see developing. Then suddenly, a third party mentions something to Everly about the male protagonist, and the book wraps up. Even the potential secondary romance.

I would have liked to see what could have happened if it was a full length novel.

I think it is worth borrowing a physical copy from the library, or borrowing the novella from Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe.

Overall Rating 4⭐️
Steam 3🌶️

💌 A quirky, small-town Valentine’s Day tradition.
🔥 Sparks flying between two “exes” – second chance romance!
🎙️ Narration by Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York.

This book is such a fun, sweet, and quick read. I did an immersive read with the e-book and audiobook. The narrators are perfect for this book.

The story opens where we find our FMC, Everly Davis, returning to her hometown, Rose, TN, because she received an invitation to the town’s Kiss Lottery. Unfortunately, while back in town, she runs into her “ex” Beckett Whitfield and she is already throwing daggers.

Long ago, Beckett was the love of her life but when he told her he never wanted to see her again, she left town and never looked back. The hurt in her heart was further deepened when Beckett wrote a character very similar to Everly, as a villain/murder in his next book.

Little does Everly know, Beckett still carries a torch for her and has for a really long time. He just doesn’t know how to tell her, show her, make her understand how strong his love really is.
While this story is very short, we learn a lot about both characters and the sub plots that tangle everyone in this story together. There are some very sweet characters and there are some very hilarious characters that every small town needs. Also, there is a rescue kitten that Everly adopts and she decides to name it Murder – how perfect!!

The spice in this novella is just chef kiss perfect and just the right amount of heat that is needed! I hope that Ilsa Madden-Mills expands upon this entire group from Rose, TN.

I was provided this e-ARC by NetGalley and the author – thank you!

#NetGalley
#TheKissLottery

This is a really speedy read but it is packed-full of romance and fun! I loved Beckett and Everly - and the fact that this is a slow burn / friends to lovers story makes it even more perfect.

Everly and Beckett, lifelong best friends harboring secret crushes on each other, find their paths diverging as life takes them in different directions. Years later, Everly returns to her hometown to take part in the beloved small-town tradition of the Kiss Lottery. Ilsa Madden-Mills crafts a delightful and heartwarming tale that’s perfect for readers seeking a quick, fun read with a feel-good happy ending.

Madden brings the funny without ever losing sight of the heart. The Kiss Lottery is the sweetest blend of temptation and emotion. From sensory overload to heartbreaking romance, Beckett and Everly bring big city personality to small town romance.

“Love doesn’t always make sense, but it can endure time, distance, even mistakes.”

The annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, is about to kick off, and podcaster Everly receives an anonymous invitation—though she’s attending under the guise of covering it for an episode.

Of course, she immediately bumps into her former best friend, Beckett—a bestselling author who, funnily enough, once made her the villain in one of his books. Ha! It’s been ten years since they last spoke, ever since they tried (and failed) to cross the line between friendship and something more.

This romcom was such a delight! Beckett and Everly’s “I hate you” ping-pong match had me grinning, and their close proximity only heightened the undeniable chemistry. With so much history between them, it was only a matter of time before they pieced their broken puzzle back together.

A sweet second-chance romance with just the right amount of spice!

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everly is finally returning home after being invited to The Kiss Lottery. Beckett has stayed in Rose his whole life. They dated back in high school but didn’t end up on good terms. Is Everly’s homecoming a second chance or will they finally realize they were never meant to be together?

The Kiss Lottery is a Valentine’s tradition in Rose. Every year people participate in a number of activities all themed around Valentine’s Day. This year, someone sent Everly an invitation to attend. She runs a travel blog and podcast. She plans to use the Kiss Lottery as a topic on her podcast. She has travelled all over the world but she’s not ready to settle down one place. Beckett is an author. He has happily stayed in town living on his farm. He suddenly and unexpectedly broke up with Everly in high school. He had good reasons at the time to break up but he never told Everly so she was heartbroken and confused. His best friend, Carson, fell in love with Everly in high school. The reason Everly fled Rose and never returned is because someone found her diary and copied it for everyone to read. The embarrassment and hurt was too much to handle. Everly and Beckett reconnect and get to know each other as adults. They have to work through the pain and embarrassment of the past before they can explore if they want to try again. There are secrets revealed and childhood traumas to heal. In the end I was rooting to them to figure it out and end up together.

This story takes place in Rose, Tennessee, a small town with all the quirks of quirky small towns. I you like straightforward second chance romances, then give this a try. It is a very fast read. I will read more from this author in the future.

This book is the perfect Valentine's Day book. It was so much fun! I adored the characters. The back story was intriguing and well developed. The writing was top notch with the perfect enough of conflict to keep me reading from start to finish. The banter was hilarious. There wasn't anything I didn't love about this story except it was too short.
Everly and Beckett definitely get their well deserved second chance. Everly is a podcaster and someone invited her to come back to her small town to cover The Kiss Lottery. It's a town tradition. The back story had Everly in a bit of a love triangle. It was the reason everything fell apart back then. There definitely isn't a love triangle in the present though. It's definitely Everly and Beckett's story. Huge thanks to Montlake and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

So fun, some angst, and some second chance. All things I eat up!

Everly Davis is back in town. A town where the people she left behind... oh boy, it was kinda a mess. Her best friend didn't want anything to do with her and proved it in front of everyone.

So why years later is SHE the villain of his latest story? An invitation to "The Kiss Lottery," a town tradition where singles in the town are set up, brings her back home. To her ex. To the enemy. And to that best friend.

It's heartbreaking to flash back to Everly and Beckett back then. Because as close as they were, we know what the future brings to both of them. And Beckett... there were times I wanted to bring him THROUGH the wringer. With my bare hands, lol.

I love small-town novels. Everyone knew the business, and of course, there were some who wanted to keep the friction going, and some who wanted that second chance at friendship to happen.

Beckett could have been a little more grovely IMO but it's really a sweet novella.

❤️ Rom-Com
❤️ Small town
❤️ Friends to lovers
❤️ Enemies to lovers
❤️ Second chance
❤️ Novella

Perfect quick read for February! Everly and Beckett are a little hostile when they meet back up, but the sparks are undeniable. Their conversations about the past and issues they had was great to see. There was still a good slow burn and buildup for being a novella. Loved the friend group as well. It had me laughing and cheering these two on!

Thank you @ilsamaddenmills & Montlake & Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5 rounded up to 4. Cute holiday read! I thought at times it felt a bit rushed. I feel like this one would have been much better a full length novel so that we got the entire story from beginning to end. I don't know that I would have been that forgiving so easily myself lol Still a good book and if you're looking for something quick with a HEA pick it up!

I absolutely adored this story! The chemistry between Beckett and Everly was incredible and I loved how effortlessly the story flowed. Highly recommend this book!