I love this month’s topic from Andi @ Andi’s ABCs for the Contemporary Romance 2017 Challenge! Apparently, I have a thing for surprise first kisses. Who knew! I mean, they are obviously fun because you get the true reactions of both characters but I didn’t realize how much that was my jam until I made this list. It is probably more extensive in actuality but I have a terrible memory so without rereading a ton of contemporary books, this is what I’m going with (mild spoilers if you care, but we’re all here for romance and kissing, right?).

The Deal by Elle Kennedy– Hannah cannot believe that she finally agreed to tutor hockey star Garrett Graham, but hey, she needs help hooking up with her crush. She totally doesn’t enjoy joking around and spending time with handsome, smart Garrett, why would she? Oh, Garrett dares her to kiss him while they’re studying in his room? Sure, no big deal, except it IS THE CHEMISTRY IS INSANE and just to prove how much she “doesn’t care”, she kisses his roommate too when he walks in at a most inopportune time. That’ll show him.

Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy– Jamie just can’t understand why he’s so bothered by the guy in the bar hitting on his best friend Wes, monopolizing his time, and flirting with him. I wonder 😉 And in a heated moment when Wes is wondering why Jamie’s being such an ass about it, Jamie kisses him. Out of the blue. In the rain. ROMANCE WITH A CAPITAL R. Oh yeah, Wes is gay and Jamie is for all intents and purposes straight…. until he realizes (basically in this moment) that’s he’s bisexual and very very into his best friend. Fun for everyone 😀

Every Breath by Ellie Marney– There is a scene in this book where Mycroft grabs Rachel’s ankle and it is sexy as hell, if that tells you anything. No they are not doing anything romantic at the time. So yeah, Ellie Marney is the queen of this sort of stuff. And this is another classic “We don’t like each other! We’re just best friends who spend a lot of time together and give each other looks. Here, we’ll show you, a kiss in front of all our friends at lunch as a Science Experiment.” That immediately goes AWRY because they are so swept away by this magical, chemistry filled kiss (which is described for an entire page) that they just stare at each other afterward, mutter “gotta go”, and leave everyone with their eyebrows raised. Yep. Just science, that’s all.

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes– Oh maaaan, one of my favorite sneak attack surprise kisses! Fake dating is such a delicious plot wrinkle in YA romance because of moments like these. Lainey is playing soccer with her ex-bf’s team and generally wants to make him jealous but unbeknownst to her, her fake bf Micah shows up to cheer her on and afterwards walks up to her, GIVES HER A KISS THAT LEAVES HER DIZZY, gently tugs on her braid, smirks at her, and walks away. I’m going to faint just thinking about it.

Dating Sarah Cooper by Siera Maley– Another surprise “I’ll show you guys!” kiss. So this book does start off on a rocky note- Katie and her best friend Sarah are pretending to be a bi/lesbian couple, which is kind of messed up, but in the act of pretending, it becomes a very real, very confusing relationship/friendship. And to prove to their new LGBT club friends that they “really are a couple” (hah), Sarah grabs Katie and kisses her in front of everyone. Really kisses her. And these little lightbulbs start going off in both of their heads and there are lip nibbles and hands on hips and they are both left out of breath, kind of shocked, and in Katie’s case (it’s from her POV) super confused. Swoooon city! It’s the beginning of something beautiful.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne– the classic hate to love, one of my favorites. You know Lucy and Josh will get together but you don’t mind, and you don’t know when or how. The elevator kiss will remain one of the hottest, sexiest, most surprising first kisses I’ve ever read. Argue argue, serial killer eyes, KISSING, “what? I had a theory, I just needed to test it”. OKAY JOSH, whatever you say!

What are some of your favorite first kisses in contemporary romance?