Review: Kiss It by Erin Downing

Kiss It by Erin Downing
Young Adult General Fiction/Romance
Simon Pulse (June 15, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1416997009
288 pages
Review copy provided by the author

A girl's gotta do who a girl's gotta do.

Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz's life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps—but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you've got true lust?

Sebastian has no idea what he's in for—but maybe neither does Chaz?.

I've been putting off this review for since the week before Kiss It was released. The reason for that? I was (and still am to a degree) uncertain about just what my feelings were toward this novel. With Kiss It, Erin Downing has told a very frank tale of teenage sexuality and the inevitable pressures and realities inherent to the subject that could potentially be very polarizing.

The protagonist, Chaz, narrates her quest to finally have sex. Her reasons for the urgency behind her goal seem stereotypical at first - she's a bundle of teenage hormones and horniness. However, despite being somewhat emotionally closed-off and having an aversion to romantic attachment, it becomes apparent through her loneliness amongst her friends and family that what she needs is a true connection with someone. Still, she's aggressive, blunt and, at times, given to using a certain male character to reach her goal. She feels guilt at the appropriate times, but her abrasive personality and the fact that she uses someone multiple times makes her a hard character to like. That said, I may not have liked Chaz much but at least she was real - a quality that I admire in people both actual and fiction. Her authenticity and awareness of her developing sexuality is something that I could relate to and, therefore, use to connect with her. As long as I can understand a character, I don't need to love them.

Another thing that makes Chaz more palatable and her story a bit less polarizing is the romance that takes place between her and Sebastien, a fellow high-school senior who is visiting his Dad in Chaz's town. The tension zinging between the two of them is present from the start and never lets up. That doesn't preclude there relationship from getting of to an awkward start, however. In Sebastien, Chaz finds a kindred spirit and an begins to open up to both him and the reader. As we gain insight into our protagonist, we also learn more about the mysterious and sexy boy that she's falling for. His story is pretty intriguing and unique, although I didn't quite buy how extreme it was made out to be.

While not surprising, it is interesting to watch Chaz's views of love and sex change during the course of the story. Her relationship with Sebastien progresses quickly but remains believable given the circumstances of the novel and their ages. If you choose to pick this one up, don't go into it thinking that it's just a romance. Not only is it more than that, but you'll inevitably be disappointed with the less-than-fairy-tale ending.

Though my regard toward Chaz remains somewhat conflicted, I do feel that it's important to have YA novels like this one - so open about the topic of sex while not being preachy or neglecting to touch upon various viewpoints.

Grade: B

Other Reviews:
The Story Siren - 5/5 stars
Persnickety Snark
Pop Culture Junkie - 3.5/5 stars 

Visit Erin Downing's site and blog for more information about her and her novels.

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