The Kiss List

By: Maya Hughes

Narrated by: Stephen Dexter, Desiree Ketchum

If I were on fire, she’d break out the marshmallows.

It’s not that we don’t like each other, more like hate with the fury of a thousand suns. But it wasn’t always that way.

I still remember how her lips tasted. How they felt pressed against mine. How I wanted more.

How I still crave her. Our disastrous night together ended with her storming out, me wondering if I’d ever be able to show my face on campus again and us as bitter enemies.

When a campus competition is announced to find the most in love couple, she’s the last person I thought I’d turn to for help. But the prize could change both our lives. An internship for her and a chance to finally connect with my father. It’s too hard to resist. Just like her heated glares and tempting curves.

To win, we’ve got to prove to everyone we’re a couple. Head over heels, can’t keep our hands off each other in love. Fake the hell out of it for our chance at glory.

Maybe we’re a little too good at selling it to the whole campus because the lines haven’t just been blurred, they've gone up in flames.

Can I convince her I want us to be together for real and keep the prize? Or will I lose them both?

A Fulton U Rivals stand-alone set on a brand new campus, St. Francis U.

©2022 Maya Hughes (P)2022 Maya Hughes

Endearing, relatable and utterly adorable

The Kiss List is another one of Maya's bountiful masterpieces that will steal your heart and knock you to the ground swooning.

With the perfect balance of witty banter, angsty drama and sugary sweetness, narrators Stephen Dexter and Desiree Ketchum bring these character's to life like no others.

The true charm in this story lies with witnessing Kennedy and Cole's relationship building and developing between the cheesy, over the top, romantic gestures in the tender, quite moments and trust they share.

As always, Maya's talent shines through the beautiful friendships, sense of community and family she manages to evoke, and I can't wait for more from STFU.

5 stars and a knight in shining armor

Cole and Kennedy totally won me over!

I'll be the first to admit......book #1 of the STFU crew, wasn't quite my favorite. Maybe I was still holding on to my love of the Fulton U characters and wasn't allowing myself to fall for their rivals.

But, after reading (and now listening to) The Kiss List, Cole and Kennedy have totally stolen a piece of my heart and have totally won me over, as I absolutely adored them and this story! And listening to the narration from Stephen Dexter and Desiree Ketchum brought a whole new dynamic to the story! They both did an amazing job bringing Cole and Kennedy to life - you could feel the emotion from both of them, and it made me love the story even more.

Just knowing that they had a history together, I thought the fake relationship aspect of the storyline was a fun way to put them together - especially since they both still have some lingering feelings for one another. I was definitely surprised when the reason for the animosity between them was revealed, but I thought the way they both handled that whole conversation was really mature - AND, they were both able to tell each other how they truly felt and could give in to those feelings they still had.

Obviously, the conflict with Coach Mikelson and the team carries over into book 2, but just when you think you know everything, Maya throws some curveballs (I wish I could think of a football metaphor to use, lol) at us. And I know there is still more to be explored in future books in the series, as we wait for him to get what's coming to him.

And then.....of course......Maya just had to throw one last little tidbit in there at the end that totally had my jaw on the floor, and now I'm beyond excited for the next book in the series!

Feels for days

The Kiss List is everything I love about Maya Hughes's writing. It's witty, it's emotional, and it's wonderfully written with characters that practically leap off the page. I absolutely loved Cole and Kennedy. Their story is technically a fake dating romance with some enemies-to-lovers vibes in there, although that's pretty fake too, but in a different way. Of course, nothing generates more sparks than when two people are both determined to keep the other from knowing how they really feel, and Kennedy and Cole certainly generate some sparks. They also both have some baggage, and maybe even a secret or two. This is where I throw in that some of that baggage felt all too real and maybe even a bit familiar, so this one struck me right in the feels on a couple different levels. I think it would be a fair statement to say that this couple has a few pit stops on their journey, but what a journey it is. There are so many things I loved about this book, but to name them all would get into spoiler territory. With that in mind, I'll just say that Maya has set the bar high for whatever comes next in this series, but I have no doubt she'll rise to the challenge.
Add the exceptional narration of Stephen Dexter and Desiree Ketchum to an already great story, and we get romance magic. This one has feels for days, and these narrators totally capture every single one.

How to show undying love

I loved this book when I read it in print and I love it even more now that I’ve listened to it. Maya Hughes has created a world in which I wish I could reside. Kennedy and Cole are perfection. They are both after a prize in the Puppy Love competition for totally different reasons and neither one is for love. As a matter of fact, they can’t stand each other. They don’t have to like each other to pretend like they are in love. I adore Kennedy. She is everything I want to be. Confident, stylish and could care less what anyone thinks of her. Cole is one of the stars of the football team and works harder and longer than any of them. There is a reason.
This pair learns so much throughout this book. Even up to the last chapter. I can’t wait for the next book in this series and the one after that AND the one after that.

Fantastic enemies to lovers, fake romance

I knew from the first book that Cole and Kennedy were going to be crackling with banter, contempt, but deep down, an attraction and relationship that is too hot to deny. They hate each other, but decide to become a fake couple in order to win a campus completion that will earn them cash they both need. Their journey is filled with bumps, but it is so worth the ride.

A truly wonderful story about two college students, (growing and learning valuable lessons but not too immature) finding their way through life. When their fake relationship starts feeling all too real, they are both shocked. Trying to move past one night that should have ended one way, but ended the complete opposite is hard.

With great dialogue, fantastic banter and a deep seated affection for the other, this story had a little bit of everything. There is also a surprise that I won’t give away. Another winner from Ms. Hughes. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

On top of all the great things about the story, when you add the narration, the characters seem to come to life even more. They both did a fantastic job bringing all the emotions to the characters.

Emotional and touching romance!

I had the opportunity to listen to The Kiss List by Maya Hughes and I loved it. This is the second book in the Fulton U Rivals series and is an enemies to lovers fake romance story. Narrated by Stephen Dexter and Desiree Ketchum, they truly brought Kennedy and Cole to life for me. After spending a night together, things do not end well. This leads to the enemies side of their relationship. When a campus competition for couples provides a prize they want, they decide to enter. But can they make others believe they are totally in love?

Kennedy is smart and determined. Cole was sweet and loyal. They each carry their own issues and had to work through them, but together they were amazing. I loved their banter and their chemistry was undeniable. I loved how they went from enemies to fake relationship and then to more. Their journey was emotional, touching and captivating. I am loving this series!

Happy listening!

Great enemies to lovers story!

This story did not go any of the way that I anticipated. (this isn't a bad thing)
From Kiss and Tell, we know that Cole and Kennedy don't like each and The Kiss List tells us why.
The idea of the Puppy Love Competition was cute, albeit a little unrealistic but it is a love story after all. Cole and Kennedy have such different motives for partaking in it. Kennedy's seemed a little more believable. I wasn't expecting that the characters had such tragedy in their home lives and for me to feel so emotional over it. I didn't see the twist in this coming at all. I enjoyed the progression of their feelings for one another especially from where they started from. There is one character in this series that I am waiting for them to get their comeuppance. And there was a new character in this story that I am dying to hear what happens to them.

Angsty Fake Relationship Romance

“Our big fake was the closest I’d come to anything real.”

Fake relationship stories are my jam! Add in a sports romance and I’m in heaven. The Kiss List checked all of my boxes. This enemies to lovers story had just the right amount of heat and heart and Cole and Kennedy were so right together.

“He’d made me feel like maybe I didn’t have to do everything on my own—alone.”

Kennedy was such a strong, independent and fiery personality. She loved hard when she finally opened her heart. Her determination to do what was right for herself while also supporting those she loved had me in the feels.

“I didn’t feel alone with her and knew the loneliness would pierce that much sharper if she was gone.”

I could feel the pain that Cole carried with him and it was heartbreaking. He felt alone most of the time even though he was surrounded by friends who loved him unconditionally.

“The smile. The way his arms wrapped around me. The way everything seemed to sparkle when he was close.”

Both Kennedy and Cole had painful childhoods that had shaped them into who they were today. They needed to learn how to trust and put their pasts behind them in order to move forward. Once they discussed the origin of their feelings for each other, I loved how they supported one another and grew together. Plus the banter and chemistry between them was absolutely electric.

Stephen Dexter and Desiree Ketchum narrated the audio and they made me fall in love with the story all over again. Both perfectly captured every emotion in their voices and made Kennedy and Cole come alive for me.

I’m loving the Fulton U Rivals series and I can’t wait to read the stories for the rest of the guys!!

Firey, Fun story!

I went into The Kiss List completely blind. It didn’t matter what it was about, the author was Maya Hughes and she delivers every single time. I just knew that after Kiss and Tell I had to know what was happening between Cole and Kennedy. Kennedy and Cole hated each other with a vengeance over something that happened between then previously… that is for you to find out. So, when the school comes out with a competition for couples that could give them both what they want… they make a deal. In comes the fake relationship. I also adore that we get an update with so many of the secondary characters. It’s a treasure to get to see them again and to see their fun games play out.

I really appreciate that Maya Hughes writes plus size heroines. Kennedy was plus size and seriously rocked the confidence. She’s a strong character and I really liked her strength and courage. Cole was adorable and I seriously swooned over how chivalrous he could be. While they both has some struggles, Cole doesn’t quite know how to handle his and I love how Kennedy is there for him. The narrators, Stephen Dexter and Desiree Ketchum, are seriously fantastic today. They have a chemistry that shows even through their voices. Dexter perfectly encompasses Cole. There’s a fierce determination to him. Ketchum is perfectly Kennedy. She shows her strength and that fiery side to her.

Love. Love. Love.

One of my absolute favorite. My heart is so full from this one. Love. Love. Love.