6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did)

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By Tess Sharpe

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$11.99

Price

$15.99 CAD

Nina LaCour meets Jenny Han in this beautiful and charming story of six moments that lead to two girls, one kiss, and eventually, three little words that were maybe always true. 

After years of bickering, Penny and Tate have called a truce: they’ll play nice. They have to. Their mothers (life-long best friends) need them to be perfect, drama-free daughters when Penny’s mother becomes a living liver donor to Tate’s mom. Forced to live together as their moms recover, the girls’ truce is essential in keeping everything—their jobs, the house, the finances, the Moms’ healing—running smoothly. They’ve got to let this thing between them go. 

There’s one little hitch: Penny and Tate keep almost kissing.

It’s just this confusing thing that keeps happening. You know, from time to time. For basically their entire teenaged existence.

They’ve never talked about it. They’ve always ignored it in the aftermath. But now they’re living across the hall from each other.

And some things—like their kisses—can’t be almosts forever. 

Told through the two girls’ present, and six moments from their past, this dynamic love story shows that sometimes the person you need the most has been there for you all along. 

  • * “Tess Sharpe's latest endeavor has all the trappings of a quintessential romance. [It dissects] Penny and Tate's thorny romance…their relationships with themselves, and…the very nature of love.” 
    Booklist, starred review
  • “In this character-driven, slow-burn romance, both Penny and Tate are engaging voices, enriching the narrative with their strong and very different personalities. It’s impossible to choose a favorite…Well characterized and wholly entertaining.”
    Kirkus
  • "Sharpe smartly navigates familiar romance tropes, such as friends-to-lovers, to craft a refreshing and gratifying dynamic…a savvy, slow-burn romance."
    Publishers Weekly
  • Praise for Tess Sharpe

    The Girls I've Been: 

    * "A captivating, explosive, and satisfyingly queer thriller." —Kirkus, starred review

    * "An arrestingly incisive narrative . . . fiercely captivating and impressively characterized, this tightly plotted thriller is engrossing from start to finish." —Booklist, starred review

    *
    "Not since Veronica Mars have hardscrabble swagger, enormous grief and teenage noir been combined into such a satisfying piece of storytelling. The Girls I've Been is a heart-wrenching, perfectly paced, cinematic thriller . . . a romance, a tragedy and a story about reclaiming agency and power. It is a triumph." —Bookpage, starred review

    Barbed Wire Heart: 

    "Harley is one of the most complex, fascinating, dangerous characters I've encountered in years." —Lisa Gardner

    "Terrific. " —David Baldacci

    "Pulls off something rare." —Chicago Tribune

    "Possibly the most powerful, original female character we've had in decades." —New York Journal of Books

    * "Highly satisfying." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

    * "Sharpe is definitely a name to watch." —Booklist, starred review

    Far From You 

    * "This beautifully realized debut delves into the emotions of a girl recovering from drug addiction and grief, all wrapped up in a solid mystery." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    * "Sharpe creat[es] a lacerating picture of grief and regret. ...The murder mystery is compelling, and its resolution serves as a reminder that love is irrevocably tied to loss and that few people get out of it unscathed." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

    "This romance is full of struggle and strong emotions, likely to find an appreciable YA audience."
    School Library Journal

On Sale
May 14, 2024
Page Count
384 pages
ISBN-13
9780316303019

About the Author

Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing colony of feral cats. You can find her on twitter @sharpegirl.

#6TimesWeAlmostKissed

From NOVL Nation

“This achingly beautiful book brings to life not just a romantic love story, but also two very unique characters whose respect and care for each other goes far beyond the majority of young adult romances. Tate and Penny are committed to each other long before they realize they are in love. They are the kind of friends one would want in times of crisis and joy. This is not only a book that I would recommend for lovers of young adult romance… This is a story for anyone who has ever loved, lost, or struggled. It is truly a story for everyone.”

—Leah, Teaching Social Justice with Children’s Books

“Tess Sharpe knows how to write broken, complicated characters to the point that I felt like she ripped my own story from the depths of my soul!”

—Toya, @thereadingchemist

Tess Sharpe

About the Author

Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, New York Times bestselling author Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing colony of feral cats. You can find her on twitter @sharpegirl.

Learn more about this author