Thank you to Wednesday Books for the early digital copy of Three Kisses, One Midnight by *all those authors* lol! I haven’t read anything by Skye or Menon but I love Chokshi as a YA author and was happy to grab a copy of this.
This is a young feeling YA with witchy & folklore elements, that hit me like a Halloween version of Cinderella. Three friends are attending the town’s annual masquerade gala and are intent on finding true love prior to midnight. It was a little silly but magical and cute overall, and I think that younger YA readers will enjoy the book
Bookish Quick Facts:
- Title: Three Kisses, One Midnight: A Novel
- Series: N/A
- Author: Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, Evelyn Skye
- Publisher & Release: Wednesday Books, 08/30/22
- Length: 288 pages
- Rate & Recommend: ⭐⭐⭐✨ for younger teen readers
Here’s the synopsis from GoodReads:
New York Times bestselling authors Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, and Sandhya Menon craft a spellbinding novel about discovering the magic of true love on one fateful, magical night in Three Kisses, One Midnight.
The town of Moon Ridge was founded 400 years ago and everyone born and raised there knows the legend of the young woman who perished at the stroke of twelve that very same night, losing the life she was set to embark on with her dearest love. Every century since, one day a year, the Lady of Moon Ridge descends from the stars to walk among the townsfolk, conjuring an aura upon those willing to follow their hearts’ desires.
“To summon joy and love in another’s soul
For a connection that makes two people whole
For laughter and a smile that one can never miss
Sealed before midnight with a truehearted kiss.”This year at Moon Ridge High, a group of friends known as The Coven will weave art, science, and magic during a masquerade ball unlike any other. Onny, True, and Ash believe everything is in alignment to bring them the affection, acceptance, and healing that can only come from romance—with a little help from Onny’s grandmother’s love potion.
But nothing is as simple as it first seems. And as midnight approaches, The Coven learn that it will take more than a spell to recognize those who offer their love and to embrace all the magic that follows
The synopsis sounded a little not-my-style but I’ll read anything that Roshani Chokshi writes. The first friend, Onny, has an insanely rich family and her parents host the Moon Ridge founding day gala every year. Since it’s the 400th anniversary they are sparing no expense and creating the most magical, amazing celebration ever.
There was a good overall mood and setting, I would totally go to that masquerade.
I think the best part was also the most jarring part – Chokshi’s prose. The other authors wrote the dialogue and stories, and then her lyrical and magic descriptions were tagged into paragraphs. Text, Text, text, “and it was like *insert block of Chokshi prose*”.
I think they should have melded it together a little better somehow but it really did flow well overall.
Split into three sections, a section for each friend, we get to see how each teen embraces both the literal and figurative magic of the night. I was surprised to enjoy the third story the most – True had an amazing personality and I feel like the authors gave us a rough idea of her at first, so I got to overcome my first impression of her as she also had her own struggles. I liked her story the most too.
Each teen had a little adventure and I think True had the best one. Each character was good though, I didn’t particularly dislike any character or segment. Ash’s was slowest but interesting, Onny was insufferable and had to learn to look under the surface of people, and I already talked about True!
There are good youth friendly themes of being yourself, honoring family, accepting yourself and others, and others.
Overall, I’m pretty excited that these authors got together. I do think some of the content isn’t quite as cute as they intended it to be, which is why I went with my neutral rating. I do appreciate that they kept the main characters to kissing only. The characters tend to talk and text like 12 year olds and they are intended to be 17+! Like I said, I would recommend for the younger YA spectrum and also have no trouble giving this to a strong middle grader.
Thanks again to Wednesday Books for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
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