"The Kiss Lottery" by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a beautiful novella about second chances.
Everly returns to her hometown, Rose, Tennessee, after a decade away, drawn by a mysterious invitation to the annual Kiss Lottery. There, she reunites with Beckett, her high school friend and first love. Their past misunderstandings and secrets resurface, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.
The small-town setting is charming, and the supporting characters add warmth to the story. Despite its brevity, the novella offers a satisfying plot and well-developed characters. The tradition of the Kiss Lottery adds a whimsical touch. You can never go wrong with these two narrators honestly , they brought to life the characters to a t and made the whole experience even better in my opinion.
This is a heartwarming read about love, forgiveness, and the magic of Valentine's Day.
Very grateful to the publisher and @brilliancepublishing for my arc and alc through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Everly Jean Davis left Rose, Tennessee after high school and never looked back. But when she is sent a mysterious invitation to the town's annual Valentine’s Day kiss lottery, her curiosity might just get the best of her...

Beckett Whitfield may have treated Everly badly before she left town, but he has deeply regretted the choices that he made back then. So when she returns unexpectedly, it might be easier for them both to just ignore each other, but Beckett never stopped caring for the woman who used to be his best friend, and ignoring her just isn't an option...

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The Kiss Lottery was a sexy and fun, enemies to lovers, second chance romance read! With this engaging story set in a small town celebrating Valentine's Day, Everly and Beckett will find avoiding each other impossible, a good amount of small town meddling, and a sexy reconnection they never saw coming...

Everly never planned on returning to the town where she experienced so much heartbreak, but while she is at a crossroads in her life, she decides to do the unthinkable. She not only plans an extended stay in Rose, Tennessee, but she joins the town's annual "Kiss Lottery"...

Beckett is happy to have Everly back in town, and although he enjoys reconnecting with her, the reason they had a falling out to begin with is still festering below the surface. Can he let go of the past, or will Beckett send Everly fleeing from her hometown, for good this time...

I loved this book! It was a fast, sexy read with a highly entertaining antagonistic relationship between Everly and Beckett. I enjoyed the small town hijinks, and the great friends that Everly never lost from her move. This book is a great read for Valentine's Day or whenever you need a fantastic read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

En bref, s'il n'y a pas de grosse surprise du côté de l'intrigue, j'ai adoré passer du temps avec Everly et Beckett, ils sont tous les deux touchants et attachants et j'ai beaucoup ri. Cette romance est arrivée à un moment où j'avais besoin justement de légèreté et d'un bonbon de bonheur et j'ai adoré me plonger avec eux dans leur histoire. Certes, ça reste simple et déjà vu mais ça a parfaitement fonctionné avec moi et j'ai adoré les voir se rapprocher et s'avouer enfin leurs sentiments. Une très belle histoire servie par deux personnages attachants !

Beckett is a mass of contradictions.

He truly does not know what or who he wants. He has a complicated relationship with Everly, his former next door neighbor who he crushed on but pushed away because he resented her and her mother (due to his father). He NEVER chooses Everly, made her the villain in his book and then blows hot and cold. He wants her but doesn't want anyone else to have her, ie, his best friend Carson, who he choose, instead of Everly then told her he never wanted to see her again. Which Everly respected and did not see him for ten years. Which Beckett hold against her. See? This guy does not know who he wants and causes endless misery for both he and Everly. Run, Everly, its not a good match, cuz all the unnecessary drama has been created by Beckett. Just choose the girl. Oh, and they are both in the Kiss Lottery,

Everly and Beckett

Small town, heartbreak, lasting friendships, secrets, second chances, enemies, and bullies that never grow up
Everly left town and didn't look back. That is until a mysterious person sent her an invitation to the Kiss Lottery. A long tradition in the town she grew up in.
This story shows that love endures through time and trials. There is a fine line between love and hate. It was a quick read and has an HEA. I would recommend this book!

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was the perfect second chance romance leading into Valentine's Day. It is a complete standalone, and to my knowledge doesn't connect with any of the author's other works. In the town of Rose, the Kiss Lottery pairs strangers and those well acquainted in the hopes the couple finds true love. Everly and Beckett had that already, but their friendship and feelings for one another were shattered in high school. Her true feelings for him were put on display for the whole town to see, and he was given a choice and he didn't choose her.

Years apart have not healed all wounds, so when Everly receives an anonymous invitation to participate in this year's Kiss Lottery, she returns home to cover it for her podcast and to see if she can mend her broken heart. Beckett never left, and he never forgot his first love and the one that got away. With the help of their friends, a meddling Aunt, and a bit of an unsolved mystery Everly and Beckett are able to clear the air and open up about how they really feel.

This is a novella but I could have spent several novels worth of time in Rose with the characters, I really connected with them and the town and didn't want to leave when it was over. I really enjoyed the main and side characters and the town of Rose. Everly and Beckett were fun as they danced around each other before really confronting their feelings, given the novella length some of the scenes felt a bit under developed, but I think the author did a good job given the overall length of the book. I think had this been a full length novel, we would have seen the full development of those conversations and confrontations as we typically do in the author's work.

Rating: 1.5 Stars (rounded up for NetGalley rating)

CW: Bullying; car accident; cheating (not main couple); death of a parent

Wow. I did not like this. I have liked other full-length contemporary romances from Ilsa Madden-Mills, so I thought a cute little Valentine’s Day novella would be fun! But that was not the case.

Madden-Mills tried to cram a lot of plot into a pretty short novella, which meant everything felt rushed and underbaked. For context, these were just some of the plotlines that were in this novella:
- A mystery involving a ghost looking for information on her long-lost love from the Kiss Lottery over a century ago
- A high-school scandal involving a diary that is still causing issues today
- The mystery of who invited Everly to her hometown for the Kiss Lottery
- Beckett’s big secret involving his dad (who is the WORST)
- The love-hate, second-chance romance between Everly and Beckett
That would be a lot for any full-length novel, let alone something that clocks in at under 150 pages! There was so much going on that it was hard to know where to even focus your attention. I also was truly not expecting a message from a psychic on a ghost who participated in the Kiss Lottery looking for information on their long-lost love to play such a big part in the story, but it did, and I honestly found the storyline a bit weird in a contemporary romance. It just felt so out of place.

The romance also really did not work for me. It felt like Everly and Beckett were positioned as enemies at the beginning of this, but that animosity quickly went away after one meeting in a way that felt like it was just a forgotten aspect of their relationship. I liked hearing about and seeing their relationship as teenagers, as I felt like that was where you could see the genuine love and affection between them. But the current-day stuff was underwhelming. There was no chemistry between them and no real romantic development. I found some of Beckett’s actions even a little creepy and, dare I say, a bit stalkerish? His big romantic gesture gave me serious red flag vibes, but that might just be me.

I also felt like these characters were much younger than they were. Both Beckett and Everly are supposed to be in their late 20s (around 27, to be exact), but how they acted felt very teenager. In the snippets where they were teenagers, they didn’t even feel as juvenile as they did as adults! I think a lot of that may be because both Everly and Beckett are CLINGING to this scandal from high school involving her diary, a scandal I might add that was Everly’s own doing, so I felt little sympathy for her once I learned that. Everly and Beckett also felt just so…bland. I feel like Madden-Mills tried to give them both an interesting backstory, but it felt half-baked into how that affected them as people. The secondary characters also felt really underwhelming and very stereotypical, including a gay best friend, a quirky best friend, and a token high school mean girl.

I was also left a bit disappointed by the writing in this. I don’t usually notice the tense of a book, but I did notice that this was first-person present, which is a tense I always find a tad awkward. There were also little inconsistencies, such as the gender of Everly’s cat, that kept changing, sometimes in the same paragraph, that I couldn’t help but notice.

I’m honestly so disappointed that this novella did not work for me, as I thought the description sounded so cute! I’ve loved how Madden-Mills has written romances in the past, as she usually does a good job with the sexual tension, but that was missing from The Kiss Lottery. I would recommend you skip this novella. Grab one of her full-length novels instead, such as Beauty and the Baller or My Darling Bride, two books I absolutely loved by Madden-Mills and highly recommend!

Thank you to Montlake/NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When Everly receives an anonymous invitation to return to her home town to celebrate their Valentine’s Day traditions she accepts the invitation as an opportunity for her podcast and heads over. However, it’s been 10 years since she left her home and since she last saw her first love.

This was such a cute Valentine’s Day second chance novella and I absolutely devoured it. I loved the little “anonymous” gifts that Everly received and how she just knew exactly who they were from. Beckett was always very attentive and knew that Everly needed the time to discover herself when she left all those years ago. Even though it’s been 10 years since the two of them had seen each other, let alone spoken to each other, the feelings these two had for each other never faltered. As a sucker for romance, I swooned at their “it’s always been you” kind of love.

As it is a novella, it’s going to be fast-paced which isn’t usually my favourite but I loved every second of it and it had me itching for more. There was minimal conflict in this novella and, even then, it had resolved quickly so if you’re just looking for a quick, feel-good romance novella I would recommend this one!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ilsa Madden-Mills took us through a quick and entertaining read. At times, it was lighthearted and fun. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

The Kiss Lottery was a fun Valentine-themed book and was perfect to read in February. This is a story about childhood friends, now adults enemies to lovers, and Everly and Beckett, which is told from both of their points of view.

Everly is back in her hometown after receiving a mysterious invitation to cover The Kiss Lottery and write a story on it. While back she runs into Beckett repeatedly, we learn what happened to them in the past, and how they are the way they are today.

This book was so cute, and I enjoyed seeing how both characters dealt with the conflict of the past, and how they are each feeling now. Will Beckett and Everly get their happy ending? I enjoyed this book, and would love more about other holidays!

Beckett needed to grovel a bit more, even though ten years had passed, he did her dirty.

This was a cute little Valentine’s Day novella though - thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Cute and sometimes silly, The Kiss Lottery is a sweet second chance romance novella, perfect for those in need of a palate cleanser.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 1/2

The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden Mills is a sweet second chance frenemies to lovers romance set in a very pretty small town named Rose. Everly came back to her home town after a long time after receiving an anonymous invitation to the town's biggest event, The Kiss Lottery on Valentines Day. Beckett was her everything but he broke her heart in high school due to their complicated circumstances but is this their second chance?

I love the small town with all the cute features. Everly is so adorable and she carries a wounded heart. Even when she ran away to New York, Beckett left a gaping hole. She is witty and smart and beautiful. She cares deeply. Beckett feels like a grumpy and brooding one when you first meet him but as time goes, you see the romantic in heart of the thriller writer! They were both young when he had to make a choice. They always had a special place in each other's heart but the time was never right. They were best friends but then she became his friend's girl. Talk about messy! But now Beckett is ready to face all the mistakes and hurt and regrets and claim his other part. The small town definitely rallied behind. It was so swoony that Beckett planned it all to bring Everly back. The Invitation, the gifts, making her a character in his book. It was a pretty mix of sweet and angsty.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Great read!! Everly returns home after ten years away. She fled town after a humiliating experience but never forgot her childhood friend, Beckett. Beckett, now a famous thriller author has, likewise, never forgotten Everly. Throw in a ghost story and some crazy friends (love Tabby) and it all equals an enjoyable read.

The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Everly Davis received and unexpected invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, and she's taking the chance returning to her hometown after ten years. To say her exit was memorable would be an understatement. But now she's coming back with a successful podcast to focus on. Too bad her past is eaiting to swallow her in the memories and uncover some truths And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.

Beckett Whitfield has harbored secrets. He still hasn't forgotten Everly and his attempts to exercise her from his thoughts have failed. Now he'll take whatever steps he can to undo the harsh words said when they were teens and the even bigger hurts he tried to protect her from. Sometimes all you need is a little push to find your second chance.

Beckett and Everly shared an unbreakable bond during their high school years, a friendship that hinted at a deeper connection just waiting to be explored. But just as their feelings began to blossom, a storm of secrets swept in, tearing them apart for an agonizing decade.
Now, Everly finds herself back in the charming town of Rose, mysteriously drawn by a Valentine's Day invitation from an anonymous admirer. As she clutches the elegantly handwritten note, her heart races with the hope that it’s from Beckett. Yet, the weight of their unresolved past hangs heavily over her, casting dark shadows on their long-awaited reunion and threatening to unravel the fragile thread of their rekindled relationship.
I enjoyed this story, though I hated what Beckett said and did to drive Everly away when they were teens. I'm not sure I could have let it go.

Everly Davie has decided to come back to her home town after ten years, she had left on not good terms. She came back because of an invitation and she continues to receive them while she is back. She talks about it on her popular podcast. She also runs into Beckett Whitfield who they left on not-so-good terms, though Beckett wrote his Villan character with the name of Everly, and she now wonders why which only adds to the story. Many different characters and an excellent story that is very much worth the read.

I had high hopes for this story, but it ultimately left me conflicted. On one hand, I found it engaging and enjoyed the premise; on the other, I couldn’t get behind Beckett, the love interest, and the rushed pacing took away from the overall experience.
The story starts strong—Everly receives a mysterious letter inviting her to the Kiss Lottery, which lures her back to her hometown despite vowing never to return after a drama-filled senior year. Once there, she begins receiving anonymous gifts from a secret admirer. Is it her ex or her old best friend?
While the setup was intriguing and kept me hooked, the novella format made it hard to fully explore the characters and their relationships. What started as animosity quickly turned into longing and pining, but the transition felt underdeveloped. I also struggled with Beckett as a love interest, which made it harder to root for the romance. I wish the story had been longer to allow for deeper character growth and a more fleshed-out mystery. As it stands, it was a quick, engaging read but ultimately felt like a missed opportunity.

I enjoy reading books by Ilsa Madden-Mills and The Kiss Lottery is another great offering by this author. The Kiss Lottery is a really sweet, second chance romance and you will like both Everly and Beckett (and their group of friends). This book, in my opinion, was very low on the angst factor. and laugh out loud funny a couple of times. Thank you NetGalley and Ilsa Madden-Mills for an advanced copy.

3.5⭐️

Honestly this was a cute little valentines novella, and I loved the backstory, but I struggled with the structure, the chapters and the actions didn’t feel seamless in terms of timelines, it kinda felt like I was bouncing back and forth between emotions, conversations, and everything else that I wasn’t able to fully enjoy this book. However, I did like it, loved the little of the kiss lottery and how it played out, but the rest, specifically Beckett and Everly’s feelings and actions just didn’t feel like planned out as well.

This is also a novella and I rarely write long reviews for those so I’ll stop there.